1: Onward to Oron-D-Narr

Growing from the walls of the well will be many roots and vines, as well a ropes and chains hanging from the top to assist in the rising of buckets of Mithrial and ore that the Dwarves had mined. They had mined deep into the moutain in search of the treasured Mithrial, perhaps too deep and awakened a creature. A beast that had been best left to its slumber. A creature that has slumbered again until now.

Falling calmly down the well, Tiphereth slows his descent and rolls his back in the direction of the fall, looking up to see his companions clinging to the roots and chains that extend downward to the bottom of the pit. Lightly grabbing hold of a chain, he slows himself and hovering, uses it to steady his position as a buoyant man under water. He wedges his feet into the sides of the well, and allows his weight to return pulling hard on the chain and steadying it for any who are holding onto it above.

Speaking the common tongue, Westron he calls to the group, "The well is deep, but should your hands remain steady you have not to fear. I shall await you here and accompany your descent."

He looks down into the black pit. "Lac'Nala, something stirs in the darkness, I can feel a presence." the Diethir warns, but realizes that they have little choice but to brave the abyss below.

Brianna clings to a thick vine on the wall of the well, looking at the others. Hearing the strange, floating one speak, she begins her descent, making sure she stears clear of all of them. The female drow was going to slice her throat before she even knew what or who she was and the men...well the men were men.

Keeping silent, she continues her climb down, wandering just what the floating man was talking about when he mentioned something stirring in the darkness. Her dark green eyes keep darting everywhere, watching the small group as well as looking below her.

Giving a small yelp, she slaps at a small spider that crawled onto her arm and loses her grip in the process. Making no sound, but her eyes wide with dread, she grabs for anything to hold onto and finally latches onto another thick vine. She hangs there, catching her breath. "Gods, I hate spiders", she mutters to herself.

____________________________________________________________________________________Judge not nor fear that or those which you do not understand, for it or they may be someone or something that will aid you in the trials of your life.

As the Cave Troll lunged forward, bringing his massive hammer down he shattered the top of the tomb that Krakyn was standing on. The Dwarf slung his battle ax across his back, leap to the edge of the well, cursing in Dwarvish, as he desended down a chain. Lac running towards the well said in the common tounge "Krakyn that was not very polite, if you are not careful you will make him angry." ..... As the Cave troll leaned forward, Lac raised his sword, holding the hilt with both hands above his head and spun around. Swinging the sword with all his might, the blade sliced across the Cave Troll's throat, opening it wide. The Cave Troll gasped and a gurgling sound could be heard as he grabbed at his throat. Swaying back and borth the Troll fell backwards crushing several Orc as he fell. Lac sheathed his sword and leapt down the well grabbing an rope as he fell. As the rope tightened and stopped his fall. Lac looked up to see Orc scurrying over the edge and crawling down the walls of the well when suddenly a distand roar could be heard, the sound of massive feet striking the ground caused the walls of the well to tremble and a faint glow began to illuminate the well and the ground beneath.

The Orc screached and began to retreat rapidly up the walls of the well. As the party finnaly lowered themselves thru an openeing in the roof of a huge cavern and to the ground below all became quiet. Then another roar that seemed to shake the ground,split the silence like a thunder clap and rising for the smoke and flame stood a creature of fire and flame .

Lac once more drew his blade and stepped forward to face the Balrog, while looking around for a means of escape. Thru the red glow of the Balrog's flame he spotted a path and a stone bridge over a cravase. that lead to a great archway "Quickly across the bridge!" Lac shouted to the others "Your arrows and knives are no use against such evil. We must run!"

Brianna was thankful when her feet finally touched the ground, that is, until she saw the Balrog. She looked around at the others and heard one of the men yell that their weapons would be of no use against this creature and to run across the bridge. She couldn't have agreed more. She looks over at the others, then back at the bridge.

Brianna hollers to them, "C'MON!! LET'S GO!!" She runs for the bridge, unsheathing her shortsword, just in case.

____________________________________________________________________________________Judge not nor fear that or those which you do not understand, for it or they may be someone or something that will aid you in the trials of your life.

Even in his own distant lands, legends had spoke of such creatures. There existence pre-dated the Aelaeydium, but the old races remembered well their beginnings and knew them to be Daemons or Gods, the terms were interchangeable to them. The Balrog were Maiar, divine beings of great power who like his own Elvish race began as spirit and clothed themselves in mortal guise. These powerful creatures were among those corrupted by Morgoth, a being whose evil reached his own realm, ages ago. The Deithir knew him well, as it was he who tainted their blood with blackness, but to them he was known as Melkor and so too was the ancient name of his kind.

Gazing upon the horrific beast, it was difficult to believe that the same blood flowed through their veins but where the Balrog were creatures of shadow and flame, Tiphereth's kind were born and clothed in earth and air. Would his magic stifle the flames of this god? He thought not, so with unnatural he sped past the others to the center of the bridge and there he stood and began to cast an ancient spell. Reaching into his satchel he procured a vial of red coloured dust and turning about let the contents spill around them until they formed a full circle. He then spoke in strange magical tongue, the mystical language of incantors in his world, and as he chanted and moved his arms gracefully in patterns he circle began to glow and within it appeared several bright sigils and ornate writing which was not unlike the script of the Quenya. Winds stirred around him, swirling upward and tossing his long golden hair into the air, writhing like flames as it caught the light radiating from the magical glyph.

As the others caught up to him, Tiphereth leapt out of the glyph and looked to JIn and Alrick. "It is old magic. The glyph wards fire, even his." He explained, "But I know not if it shall hinder the Balrog for long."

Tiphereth began to move back as the Balrog drew near, his magic spent he could do little else. He knew that the other spell casters would have knowledge of the power of glyphs and know that standing within it would imbue them with it's properties. His magic would mingle with theirs and increase it exponentially, but even still he feared it would be no match against such a monster. It was their choice to fight or not, he would not hint of it, as any who chose to stand before the Balrog would most certainly perish. Alone the glyph would buy them precious moments, but would be it enough? Tiphereth knew not what lied ahead, and as goblin arrows began to rain down on them from above them, he feared this great cavern may end up being their tomb.

Grabbing a hold of Alrick’s hand as they jumped into the well, Jin used her Feather Fall spell to allow them float down the well, much like Tiphereth had done. When she heard Briana shriek as a spider climbed onto her arm, the Drowess smiled a vicious little victory smile. Of course it was short lived as she knew the spider no longer lived. Something Jin would certainly make the human bitch pay for when the time was right.

The thunderous noise from below her and the retreating Goblins above told Jin what awaited them beneath the well was something she would rather not see. But fate had a way of making sure she got an eyeful of everything lately, so this would be no different.

As her feet finally landed on solid ground, she released Alrick’s hand and lowered to one knee and looked around. When the fiery glow of the Balrog came into sight, she felt a shiver of sheer terror slide through her. Her subterranean sight showed her everything and she felt a sudden urge to turn and run, screaming in fright. But her feet held her fast to where she stood. It was Alrick who moved her.

“JIN! Get up now!”

Blinking, she let her frightened gaze fall on the young human wizards and saw he was pointing to something. Blinking again, she rose and looked past Alrick to where Tiphereth had run. The air around the Phaerie glowed with a strange light and she could see strange writing suspended in the air in the glow. Knowing he was a magical being, but not sure of its origins, she relied on her training to guide her.

Magic, no matter what kind it is, calls to others who are magic wielders. Deep within her, Jin felt the call of this strange magic, just as Alrick had, and when she felt her legs moving towards the glow, she knew Alrick was going with her as well. The young wizard soke up over the hum of the magic they could both now hear and the roar of the Balrog and the crackle of his fire.

“We need to stop him! Tiphereth has given us the chance! It’s up to us to finish the job!”

Jin nodded. Alrick was correct. Tiphereth had given them something to work with and now, they would have to use every ounce of knowledge and strength they had between the two of them to make it work so they others could continue on with their journey. Even if it meant sacrificing themselves for the better good of the group.

Alrick reached his hand out to Jin and the Drowess looked down at the offered hand before taking it and gripping it firmly. As Tiphereth moved away from the glyph, Jin called to him.

“You and the others must leave this cavern! NOW! Alrick and I will do what we can to buy you time!”

There was a seconds hesitation before she spoke again, this time her voice a soft whisper in his ear even though she stood a few yards away from him now.

“Thank you, Tiphereth. I shall not forget what you have done for us. Now take the others and leave this place not to look back. We shall see each other on the other side.”

Before Tiphereth could respond, she and Alrick were engulfed by the glyph. The Balrog roared as though he had been angered by the fact he was unable to reach those so close to him. With the Balrog’s attention clearly focused on the two targets closest to him, the others were now given the chance to escape the horror of such a creature.

Within the glyph, Jin and Alrick joined forearms and the two of them began to chant. Jin in her language and Alrick in the tongue of ancient magic. The Balrog began to throw a tantrum and hit the walls and floor near them, trying to break their concentration. All around them the ground rumbled and debris from the walls and ceiling began to plummet all around them, crashing dangerously close. Still, the young Wizard and Drowess remained together and not once did their voices stop chanting. The magic Alrick held within him was powerful. More powerful than Jin had ever felt before and she knew, right then and there, if the apprentice wished to channel this magic, nothing would stop him. She could feel that dark magic lick at the very edges of his being and knew it was seducing the young wizard like a lover in the dark of night. Jin could also feel the fight within the young wizard as the light from his former master battled against the darkness of the sorceress that had all but destroyed the young man Jin now stood with.

But Jin felt something else as well. She felt her own magic being pulled from her very being. Almost as if Alrick were sucking it from her. Unable to break away, Jin knew the drain to her being would be devastating but she was willing to make that sacrifice. If it meant the others would be able to continue on, then so be it. Some one had to stop Verin.

Alrick’s voice changed suddenly. Where she had heard that of a young mans, now she heard that of an older mans and a woman’s beneath it. Both of them were chanting the same thing over and over, just as Jin was. Jin felt a static like charge coursing through her body. It was the most painful thing yet the most pleasant thing she had ever felt before. She wanted to scream in both bliss and pain, but she kept chanting over and over. To stop would be suicide followed quickly by the murder of all the others.

Finally Jin grew numb and with the numbness, she was able to forget all else, but the spell she and Alrick were weaving together. The Balrog shrieked and cried in rage and finally his hands struck too close to the pair. The ground beneath Jin gave way and she felt herself plummeting, but only a foot. Alrick still held her forearms steadfast in his grip and as Jin’s eyes flew open and a scream erupted form her lips, she saw Alrick looked different. She could still see the young man standing there, but surrounding him, almost like a ghost, were the forms of a wizened old man and a woman with flaming red hair. Alrick’s face was looking upwards, towards the Balrog as were those of the ‘ghosts’.

Alrick pulled Jin up to stand back on solid ground with him and as soon as she reached his level, his hands suddenly locked onto hers and he thrust both of their arms high into the air. Once again she felt the drain on her being as Alrick’s chanting grew more urgent and louder. The Balrog moved in for the final blow and as the beast raised it’s fist to smash the two inferior creatures who dared to invade his world, a brilliant light shot from the upraised hands of both Jin and Alrick hitting the Balrog square in the chest. The Balrog shrieked now in pain as the bolt of light remained steadfast, boring into his chest.

The Balrog lost his balance and as he toppled into the wide chasm, he flailed his arms out, desperately reaching for something to hold onto, but all he was able to do was graze the ledge Jin and Alrick were on. It was enough of a jolt that it crumbled the ledge they stood on causing both of them to plummet after the beast. Alrick, being the heavier of the two, began to fall quicker than Jin. Desperately trying to hold onto the young wizard, Jin cast her Feather Fall spell once more but because of the drain to her body by helping Alrick cast his spell, she wasn’t able to help stop Alrick's rapid descent. Alrick looked up at her and shook his head, unable to say anything as the free fall took their breath away. Jin's spell was tugging hard at her body to stop the fall, but Alrick's body was like an anchor pulling her down. There was only one thing that could be done.

Jin desperately held onto Alrick’s hand but the young wizard released his grip making it impossible for the Drowess to hold onto him for longer than a few seconds. When they were finally separated, Jin felt herself snatched up like an invisible rope had grabbed a hold of her as her Feather Fall spell was able to finally work properly but Alrick kept plummeting down at a fast rate of speed.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Jin screamed but the Drowess lost sight of Alrick and all she could hear was the screaming Balrog as he plummeted into the never ending darkness. When she could no longer see Alrick, Jin found the first ledge she could land on and guided herself to that ledge. It was a good thing, too. Her energy drained, Jin’s legs could not support her own weight when she finally felt solid ground under foot.

It took a few minutes, but Jin finally got enough strength to pull herself up and begin looking for a way back to the others. It was pitch black where she landed and it was difficult to tell just exactly how far she had fallen down, but she couldn’t stay here.

The ledge was the end of a cave and moving further back into the cave, Jin began weaving her way through the earthen labyrinth to try and find the others, if that was even possible. Of course she had to take several breaks along the way and from time to time she would call out for the others to see if they could hear her. The one thing she did realize was that the cave slowly inclined and therefore she was certain she was headed in the right direction.

It seemed like an eternity, and in fact it was several hours, but Jin finally came to a junction where several caves converged. By her estimate, she was at least close to the same level she had left the others and with any luck, she would pick up on the trail the others left behind. But she was so exhausted. All she needed was a few moments rest.

Sliding down the wall of the cave she had just followed to this juncture, Jin sank to the floor of the underground cavern and leaned her head back against the wall of the cave, closing her eyes. Just….a….few….minutes…..rest.

____________________________________________________________________________________Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.

Last edited by RPMistress on Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:07 pm; edited 1 time in total

Brianna watched as the young wizard and the drowess entered the glowing circle and heard her say for the rest of them to get out. She looked at the others, then at the balrog, and finally back to the two inside the circle. Knowing that she had no choice, she followed the others out.

Looking at the one called Tiphereth, she looked back as they ran, dodging goblin arrows as she ran. "We can't leave them there. How will they find you?"

Finally stopping to catch her breath, she looks to the others. "I don't think that lady elf likes me much, but regardless, you can't just leave them. We should try and find them, don't you think?"

____________________________________________________________________________________Judge not nor fear that or those which you do not understand, for it or they may be someone or something that will aid you in the trials of your life.

Tiphereth's blackened eyes and porcelain face betrayed little emotion when he turned in acknowledgment to Brianna's suggestion to locate their fallen companions. A few goblin arrows ricocheted off of the hand carved stairs near to them and without word or explanation swept the woman of her feet and carried up the stairway with great speed.

Beyond the bridge, a ladder of stairways, carved from the natural rock wound their way up the sheer wall of the massive cavern. Brianna could not resist the powerful arms that cradled her, and escape would only be possible by inflicting violence upon the strange Elfin man, but his intentions hardly seemed to warrant such a reaction so she held fast. Tiphereth strode up the stairs in leaps and bounds and at times Brianna every so often felt as if they might take flight only to feel them descending once more.

Tiphereth gently placed the Dunadan woman onto the ground when they reached a landing, safe from the goblin bowmen and awaited Lac'Nala. "Jin, lives." He told him, "but I know not where she is." The Deithir, removed one of his many necklaces and handed it to the ranger. The string was made of braided herbs and it held a talisman that was a thin stone disk with strange writing upon it. Near the bottom of its edge was a hole and looped through it, dangling beneath was a small braided lock of white hair. "It is Jin's." Explained Tiphereth, "If your tracking skills alone cannot find her this may be able to lead you to her, you need only set fire to it." He then looked up the stairs, "I shall continue the ascent and ensure that no goblins or orcs await in ambush. I know you will not leave your friend. May the gods guide you."

The tall golden haired Phaerie took a step up the stairs and looked to Brianna, "It is your choice." He told her then gestured to the passageway that lead back into the mountain's labyrinth, "You may accompany Lac'Nala or continue the climb." He then spoke to Lac'Nala, one last time, "I shall await you at the top."

Lac's mind screamed "NOOOOOOOO!!" as he watched helplesly as the bridge fell away. He knew he must remain expressionless as he turned to the woman who called herself Brianna and Tephereth, accepting the talisman with a nod, sheathing his sword and said "Tiphereth, get her out of here, and out of the east gate. I shall join you shortly." Lac then turned back towards the fallen bridge and a passageway opening. Stepping just inside the opening he called "Starsarinnirjayistanay, intir inasor Lonastricuru'Nirastralorastri, curaalnor yorossauthu hamestraeest moreld? " (TRANSLATION: Ssinjin, it is Lac'Nala, can you here me?) He listened intently ans tepped further into the darkness, drawing his Elven dagger, he slid it and his hand along the wall as he slowly desended down the passageway. After a few moments he stopped and called again "Starsarinnirjayistanay, intir inasor Lonastricuru'Nirastralorastri, curaalnor yorossauthu hamestraeest moreld?" (TRANSLATION: Ssinjin, it is Lac'Nala, can you here me?)

Last edited by Lac'Nal on Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:11 am; edited 3 times in total

All Brianna could do when Tiphereth cradled her in his arms and moved with uncanny speed up the stairwell was hang on. Once to the top, she stood unsteadily when he set her on her feet. Waiting and listening as he spoke to the one called Lac'Nala, she breathed a sigh of relief when she watched him hand Lac the necklace to find the drowess.

Now she had to choose and she did. Smiling encouragement to Lac'Nala, "You'll find her," she turns back to Tiphereth. "I guess I'll go with you. So, lead the way." She hoped she was making the right decision, but she didn't feel that she had much of a choice. She'd felt the vibes coming from the drow down in the well and knew that for some reason, the drow didn't like her. Why, she didn't know, but it was probably best if she just went with Tiphereth. But, she kept an eye on him, watching for anything suspicious, any movement that tell her to duck a blow or a sharp word for not doing something right.

As she climbed, she also kept an eye out for arrows from goblins, so the questions she so desperately wanted to ask could wait until they were out.

____________________________________________________________________________________Judge not nor fear that or those which you do not understand, for it or they may be someone or something that will aid you in the trials of your life.

As Tiphereth and Brianna followed the path to the East Gate and out of the side of the mountain, and stood at the mounth of the gate, they gazed across the Valley of Azanulbizr , also known as Nanduhrion.

Jin felt a strange vibration on the air currents. Blinking her eyes open, she strained to listen in fear she was being set upon by goblins and orcs. Fearing for her life, she slithered back into the cave opening she had just come out of and pulled the hood of her cloak up over her white head. Drawing a nasty looking dagger that had a wickedly curved bade with a large barb on the end of it, she gripped it in her hand, crouched down and melted into the shadows and waited.

As Jin crouched in the darkness she felt the vibration on the air currents again but this time, she cold hear, ever so faintly, the sound of Lac’Nala’s voice as he called quietly to her. Quickly scrambling to her feet, she rushed to the opening of the cave once more and shoved the hood of her cloak off her head as she quietly called back to him.

“Lac’Nala…..Yes….I can hear you.”

Looking around at her surroundings, Jin relayed what she could to the Ranger.

“I do not know where I am. All I know is several caves have come to a common juncture. I can see no light nor can I see any movement of any other creature. Large or small.”

When Jin heard Lac’s voice on the air currents, she felt a wave of emotions wash over her. Unlike anything she had felt before. It frightened and confused her to no end and even now, as she knew the Ranger was looking for her, she felt something deep within her she couldn’t name.

Swallowing hard and pushing the emotions down once more, Jin knew she couldn’t just stand there and wait for the Ranger to find her. She had to work at finding him as well. But which cave should she take? That was the question that burned within her. Finally she closed her eyes and said a prayer to her new Goddess for guidance.

“Eilistraee….help me choose the right path to take to find he who seeks me now.”

Just then Jin heard Lac’s voice again.

“Jin!”

Only this time it seemed as though he were right there, at the opening of…..the cave to her right. Knowing her Goddess had answered her prayer, she gave smile, uttered a quick, heart felt thank you and darted into the cave she heard Lac’Nala’s voice call to her from.

“Yes! I hear you, Lac’Nala.”

Carefully weaving her way through the cave, this one also rose on an incline, Jin and Lac’Nala called softly to each other for over three hours. The labyrinth of caves they found themselves in seemed to be never ending. A few times Jin started into another cave only to find herself descending once more. Before she moved any further she would turn and seek another cave. The frustration the Drowess felt at being in such unfamiliar, subterranean environment was compounded by the sheer exhaustion she was suffering from. Still, she knew she dared not stop now or lose her chance to be free from this deep, dark hell.

When Jin reached the peek of her frustration and exhaustion, she dropped to her knees on the dirt floor of the cave and bowed her head as her shoulders slumped in defeat. It was useless. Without a map or some knowledge of these caves, she would never find her way to Lac and eventually out of this maze of slow death. She should just end it now and save herself the agony of slowly starving to death or worse yet, being discovered by the Goblins and Orcs.

Taking several deep breaths, she quickly lifted her head then tilted it back and brought her dagger to her throat where her jugular pulsed wildly. Her hand had just applied pressure to her neck when she heard a soft voice call her name.

“Jin?”

Blinking her eyes open and furrowing her brows, Jin gave a puzzled look at the ceiling.

“Jin? What are you doing?”

Her dagger left her throat and she righted her head to see Lac standing a few feet away from her with a terrified look on his face. Was she imagining him there or was he really there before her? Tears stung her eyes and she began to tremble as she blinked again to try and rid her eyes of the hateful water.

“Lac’Nala? Is….is that really you?”

____________________________________________________________________________________Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.

Lac smiled and said quietly "Yes who else did youn expect? Did you think I would leave my friend behind?" Lac then extened his hand and added "Now let us get out of this evil place and join Tiphereth and Brianna."

Lac reached out and gently wiped the tears from Jin's eyes. "That dagger to your throat would not have solved anything. You and I have a journey to complete together and a war to win over evil."

Jin heard the soft voice of the Ranger and once more felt something deep within her stir to life. Glancing at the offered hand, she reached out and took it feeling the strength his calloused hand gave her as his fingers closed about her hand. Unable to prevent the tears from sliding down her cheeks as relief washed over her at being with Lac again, she silently cursed herself for allowing such weakness to be displayed. Still, when Lac wiped the tears from her eyes, she was grateful it was him and no other who found her in such dire straits.

When he mentioned her dagger, Jin glanced down at the blade still gripped in her free hand then slowly sheathed it back on her hip. If Lac could have seen better he would have seen her cheeks blazing with shame, if indeed such a thing could have been seen with her dark skin.

Nodding and still holding his hand, Jin moved along with the Ranger in hopes of finding their way out of the earthen hell they found themselves in.

“Thank you, Lac’Nala. It is I who now offer my life to you. Something I should have done already but my pride prevented me from speaking such words. It is not easy for me to admit a surface dweller, let alone a male one, has saved my life. More than once. Know now that the same oath you have spoken to me is now spoken back you in kind.”

____________________________________________________________________________________Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.

Brianna stood there with Tiphereth, staring wide-eyed at the valley. "What is this place? Where am I?" She still wasn't use to being with fellow travellers again, and as such, tended to forget that she was no longer alone.

Snapping out of her lack of judgement, she gave Tiphereth a tentative smile. "Thank you, for......well.......for whatever it was you did to get us up that stairway so quickly and for giving me a choice on which way to go." She studies him with an intent stare before looking away, realizing that she was being rude. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't stare, but......" she looks up at him again, "you're not like the others, are you? Nor are you like other males I've met on my journey."

Still on alert for more goblins and orcs, she studies her surroundings while thinking whether or not it would be wise to ask the questions she wants to ask or just leave it be and see what happens with this man and the group he is with. "Do you think Lac'Nala and the lady elf are okay?"

____________________________________________________________________________________Judge not nor fear that or those which you do not understand, for it or they may be someone or something that will aid you in the trials of your life.

Lac looked at Jin and bowed his head slightly, in recognition of her vow, then said "Fate and destiny has brought our lives together for a purpose. I sense the loss of Alrick is a part of that destiny, and fear we have loss more than a young Wizard and friend. Jin, I think that within Alrick was one of the lost seeing stones. That stone may now be in the pocession of the enemy. We must guard this information and guard ourselves and they others from the sight of the enemy. He , through his agents constantly seeks the stones for with them all he can wield the power to bring all the free lands under his control and plunge all the world into darkness."

Lac paused a moment then turned and placed his hand upon the wall, his fingers touching the scratches left by his dagger. "Let us join Tiphereth, Krakyn and Brianna, they await us outside the East Gate above the Valley of Azanulbizr." Lac then led Jin back theyway he had come and three hours latter they stood with thier companions gazing out over the Valley of Azanulbizr. " Alrick has fallen into the abyss, I fear we will not see the young Wizard again. ...... Before us are the lands known as Nanduhrion. We must cross these and the mountains beyond. ...... Come, we must reach the valley before the sunsets, by nightfall this mountainside will be crawling with Orc." Lac then started down the mountainside.

As Lac and Jinn joined them, she stepped off to the side, away from everyone, uncomfortable being around so many at one time. "I'm glad you made it okay, but I am sorry for your loss." She looked out over the landscape, wondering what was out there when she heard Lac mention the orcs.

She looks over at them, knowing that to travel alone now was idiotic at best. "Would you allow me to travel with you? I am simply trying to return home."

____________________________________________________________________________________Judge not nor fear that or those which you do not understand, for it or they may be someone or something that will aid you in the trials of your life.

When Brianna had made the statement that Tiphereth was not like the others he simply nodded and the fact that he was not like other males she had met was somewhat of an understatement. "Brianna, I am nothing like any other 'males' you have known." He assured her, while surveying the valley with his eyes ablaze with violet hues in the bright light of day. He then quickly realized that what he had just said might have been misconstrued as a boast and so he elaborated on his remark. "What I meant was," Tiphereth said as he turned and looked at her, "that I am unlike the people of this land." Tossing his hair to the side and away from his eyes the Deithir's perfect skin flashed in the sunlight, then he briefly smiled.

Tiphereth did not respond to Brianna's question concerning the safety of Lac and Jin, he could feel that a connection that might have meant the two had found one another but it was an emotional sense that he could not relay into words. Instead he momentarily watched the Dwarf, regarding the valley with apathy. It was obvious that he would miss the halls of the ancient Dwarven kingdom.

To pass the time while awaiting Lac's return,Tiphereth lounged on the rocks like a great cat, stretching out in the sun and closing his eyes. They were quick to open when he sensed the return of his companions, but Alrick was not among them. He had believed that he might have been with Jin, but when only two climbed the stairs and emerged out of the East gate it confirmed his worst fear, the wizard was dead. Springing to his feet in one smooth motion, the Deithirin Elf stood ready for Lac'Nala's direction.

Lac and Jin stepped out of the East Gate into the sun. They stood for a moment before he raised his hand and gestured for Tiphereth to continue to rest. Lac then knelt and looked out across the valley, when the one known as Brianna spoke he studied her for a moment , then said "You are welcome to join us, Lady Brianna Fox, if you choose. Before you make your choice you must know, that a great evil hunts us. The journey we have before us will be a strenuous one. What you witnessed in the Mines of Kazad-dum is but a taste of the evil that shadows us. We must be off this mountainside and out into the valley before the sunsets. By nightfall this mountainside will be crawling with Orc and perhaps worse. I feel an evil is near and approaches with a swiftness, as if the whip of the Dark Lord himself were at thier backs."

Lac did not wait for her reply, he then rose and started picking his way purposefully down the mountain towards the valley below.

Lac's staying hand seemed to push, Tiphereth back down to wear he was sitting and the Dwarf, Beldegir hung his head low in mourning for the young wizard who had so nobly sacrificed himself so that they could stand within the sunlight once more.

Night would fall, and as the leader foretold, the Orcs would emerge in full force, seeking blood for their failure to hold them in the mines. They would be well away by then, but Tiphereth knew not wear they were bound. He only knew that the further they journeyed east, the stronger his sense of the one he sought grew.

Indeed, Lac's perception of what followed them was true. Tiphereth could feel the 'evil' at their backs at every turn and yet he was unfamiliar with the nature of this enemy. When he had first felt the darkness enshrouding them, it felt ancient and thoughts of the dark one who had walked his own lands long ago came to mind. Visions of the one referred to as the Eleventh Aelaeydia in his world also bore a name within Middle-Earth, an name that was spoken in hushed tones — Morgoth. Could it be the dark one, himself? Tiphereth could not tell, so similar was this world to his own but it was governed by silent gods that seemed to prefer that Man, Dwarf and Elf walk their own roads with little or no divine guidance. It was a strange and frightening world.

Looking upon, Brianna as she spoke with Lac, Tiphereth could see a vast plain and hundreds of beautiful horses running free across the steppe. He had seen the same vision when they had first met. It was a part of her past ingrained within her essence; it was that which defined her but as the scene played over in his mind he could see that away from the herd of golden manes, a dark mare ran alone. Closing his eyes to the dream, Tiphereth turned his face to the warm sunlight and removed his flute from it's ornate sheath that hung from his satchel. While the others spoke and considered the journey ahead, he played a sorrowful lament to honour their fallen wizard.

Brianna listened to Tiphereth as he told her that he was not from these lands or these people. She understood being different as she was different, very different, from those that had raised her.

She said a thank you to Lac'Nala as he accepted her into their little group to journey with them and then told her of what perils she could face with them. "I too, have sensed an evil growing, I think all of the land and it's creatures can sense it. I am afraid, but I know that I cannot travel alone now, as the orcs have seen me with you. I thank you for allowing me to stay."

Picking her way down the mountainside along with the others, she felt at ease with the group, except for Jinn. Jinn made her uneasy, almost fearful and she couldn't figure out why. She must have done something to offend the drow, she just wished she knew what. Regardless, she'd never felt at ease in the presence of men, not after she'd been a slave for a year, but these men seemed honorable, even the dwarf. So, she talked about her home, how she was found at three years old, the blacksmith and his wife raising her with love, even though at times she was teased for being different. She didn't know why she felt the urge to tell Lac and the rest of them about her life, she just did.

When the beautiful yet sorrowful notes escaped Tiphereth's flute, Brianna ceased talking, instead, feeling the sorrow with which the music was played. She quietly stepped away from the group, giving them their space with which to mourn their lost friend. At that time, she felt like an intruder and out of respect is why she stepped off to the side to walk alone for a time.

____________________________________________________________________________________Judge not nor fear that or those which you do not understand, for it or they may be someone or something that will aid you in the trials of your life.

"Brianna, you were raised by the Horse Rider's of Rohan, an honorable people. ..... I once rode with Theoden, together with Legolis, the Dwarf Gimli and the Elves we stood on the walls of Helm's Gate. And again with with them and Arwen in the last war against the Dark Lord Saron." Lac said as he listened to Brianna's words and continued down the mountainside.

As soon as Jin reached the outside of the cave, the bright sun pained her subterranean eyes like needles poking into her eyeballs. With a soft hiss and a murmured curse in her native tongue, she pulled the hood of her cloak up over her head to protect her delicate skin and eyes from such a hateful, bright light. Giving Brianna a glare before her features grew obscured within the shadows of her hood, she retreated from the others to seek her own council.

Jin felt a great sorrow at the loss of Alrick. If only she had been stronger she could have saved the young man and both of them could have returned to the group. But she was too weak. How pathetic was that? A Drow Priestess too weak to cast a simple Feather Fall spell to allow a light weight fall of herself and another.

When Lac finally decided it was time for them to move onward down the mountains, Jin fell in behind the others, making sure she put the Dwarf between herself and the disgusting human woman allowing Tiphereth to bring up the rear. The walk down the treacherous mountainside wasn’t easy and with Briana’s insistent babble about her pitiful life, Jin’s nerves were stretched to the limit. So much so that she was about to withdraw one of her daggers and slit the woman’s throat just so she would shut up. Thankfully Tiphereth withdrew his flute and began to play a sorrowful song. While it shut the woman up from rambling on about insignificant things, it made Jin more aware of the emotions she was feeling.

Emotions were not something she was used to dealing with and while she knew Drow were capable of them, acknowledging them and knowing what to do with them were not something they were taught in their early years. In fact, emotions were something to be used against each other. Something to be manipulated and bring total devastation to another with. And now that she was being force fed these emotions, she didn’t know where to start. The only way Jin knew how to deal with them was to lash out. Unfortunately for the others, with no one else around at the time, they became targets for her wrath.

Stopping and whirling on the Deithirin, her hands clenched into tight fists, she lashed out with a very sharp, barbed tongue dripping with venomous words.

“Stop it! Stop playing that disgusting song. No one wants to hear it anyway. I can not believe you consider it music in the first place. It is nothing but stupid notes that make no sense of rhythm.”

Jin’s words brought the others to a halt. Beldigir stood with an amused smirk on his face, using his axe handle as a prop for his forearms. Brianna looked like a rabbit caught in a hunters snare and Lac furrowed his brows at her.

Jin turned her ire on the human woman then.

“And you. If I hear another thing about your pathetic life I will slit your throat and this time, the Ranger will not stop me. So you were orphaned. Lots of people are. And then you were a slave. Big deal. You are not the first human to become a slave to your own kind. Or human female to be subjected to the needs of males. You are so puny, I do not know why any man would even think of touching you. Not even the women in my world would find you worth the effort. If you were MY slave, I would have killed you for being so pathetic. You are alive now. Why not find private solace in that fact and spare the rest of us from hearing your whining. Too bad for us that we must hear your insistent babble. Why can you not just…..be quiet and move along in silence. The Orcs will have NO trouble finding us with all the noise you are uttering from your worthless lips.”

Beldigir snorted with hilarity and the Drowess turned on the Dwarf now.

“What are you laughing at? If it were not for your foolish kin, we would not have lost Alrick! We would not have had to face such a creature as the Balrog! We were no match for that thing right from the start. You and your insatiable need to find mithril and other such mystical metal to forge the greatest of all weapons. Why could none of your kind forge a weapon capable of killing the Balrog they unearthed? Why can your kind not create such a weapon to destroy the evil that breathes down upon our backs?”

By now, Lac had heard enough of Jin’s outbursts and came marching back towards her, taking her firmly by the upper arm and practically dragging her back towards the front with him.

Taking Jin a few yards from the others, Lac let go of her, roughly shoving her backwards and stood facing her with a heated look upon his face. Jin gave an equally heated look and took on a defensive stance ready for anything. At this point, she still did not realize what she was doing.

“What?!”

____________________________________________________________________________________Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.

After Lac had released Jin he glared at her a moment the his expression calmed slightly, but his eyes were cold as the ice of the great polar cap to the north "Hiemalvayeth yironuthay lirestathreneldday nelothtynhiemisanelgal? Hurarthvayeld yilosuth nirostay layisasortarethanaeestada tynossa tayhinest welothrildaysay olfay yaolunerin Glinothdelethasaysir?" (Translation:Have you leanred nothing? Have you not listened to the words of your Godess? ?) Lac Yelled... "Naeortaehiristanaegil taehilarttae hamarthapernperevnarethadel innel tayhinest moristanaeelda ithsar arthnelyis ornayest rinastracalethastar faeathauthaylintar. Istitar istisil tilhaleth palothweleldrae olfor tarhineld Dayalrelkel Lirosraedae taehirarttae arwelalkaleldnorevadel tayhiletha Belarthalaeossaglin arnirdae delrayinvaeestsae yinossauthaeray bearreloltorhinevrel tinol mirarthdaydelnelethsirsar. Evvorevanar nirothwil hinesta sorethaeldakarsat tilon dilimvirimdayeva uthsae, faeosren hiemeva fareldaarthrunsir unestar. Curuannel norothtar yaothuthu silesteth tinhilistisat. ( Translation: Nothing that happened in the mine is any one races fault. It is the power of the Dark Lord that awakened the Balog and drives your brother to maddness. Even now he seeks to divide us, for he fears us. Can not you see this. ....... "Othrin astrareneth yisothuthae taeonor branliristnaedelda brinyil yorossauthurae orwelnir sataeldalayforisasarhil nayeldethadilsil forosrel rinestavorestanaygaleth astrinaydil saetaeuthaypernimdelistitilyid, tayhinarthutae yidothuth dilos naeostor sileldetha tirhinelda forraeithestnordaysaehalinpan annaydel pernothwyneldril tilhilarthutor ithsil rinisagilhurtar brinevfororraeeva yaosuthay. Tynhiletha palothwileldrel tinos vayastranaequenuthaeinsaehal eldvaeistlae arthanirda kelevaethapern tarhameld daarrinkarnireldasatsir faerunosmin saywenarlislinorwilinnaygol arthalaylor taehirarthutae estaxavaistasaetaesor. Imnor minya wenothrunlordel athnayday YisOsUthuRayStar!" (Translation: Or are you too blinded by your own selfish needs for revenge and stupidity, that you do not see the friendship and power that is right before you. The power to vanquish evil and keep the darkness from swallowing all that exists. In my world and YOURS